Golf club swing training device

ABSTRACT

AN AUXILIARY TRAINING ATTACHMENT FOR THE HEAD OF A GOLF CLUB HAVING A HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL STABILIZER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL EXTENDED FROM THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, MALLEABLE STRIPS OF METAL IMBEDDED IN THE TRAILING EDGES OF EACH STABILIZER SUPPLYING BENDABLY ADJUSTABLE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR CONTROL, AND A RELEASABLE MOUNT FOR SUPPORTING THE STABILIZER ON THE HEAD OF A GOLF CLUB FOR ROTATIONAL ADJUSTMENT AERODYNAMICALLY TO URGE A DESIRED SWING PATH FOR THE HEAD OF THE GOLF CLUB. THE RELEASABLE MOUNT IS EITHER A SUCTION CUP FOR SO-CALLED &#34;WOOD&#34; OR A SPRING CLIP FOR SO-CALLED &#34;IRON.&#34; THERE IS A DIAL BASE PROVIDED WITH RADIAL GROOVES ENGAGEABLE BY RIBS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER IN VARIOUS ADJUSTED POSITIONS FOR &#34;HOOK&#34; OR &#34;SLICE&#34; CORRECTIONS. SOCKETS HAVING RESTRICTED ENTRANCE OPENINGS ARE PROVIDED TO RELEASABLY HOLD WEIGHTS ON THE STABILIZER.   D R A W I N G

March 6, 1973 J. G. HARRISON 3,7193%? GOLF CLUB SWING TRAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1971 IIIIIIIII n March 6, 1973 J. ca. HARRISON 3,119,363

GOLF CLUB SWING TRAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1971 2 Sheets-ShQet 2 United States Patent Otfice 3,719,363 GOLF CLUB SWING TRAINING DEVICE John Gardon Harrison, 1461 Aster Drive, Apt. 3, Antioch, Calif. 94509 Filed Aug. 5, 1971, Ser. No. 169,327 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36 US. Cl. 273-186 A 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An auxiliary training attachment for the head of a golf club having a horizontal stabilizer of flexible material, a centrally disposed vertical stabilizer of flexible material extended from the horizontal stabilizer, malleable strips of metal imbedded in the trailing edges of each stabilizer supplying bendably adjustable rudder and elevator control, and a releasable mount for supporting the stabilizer on the head of a golf club for rotational adjustment aerodynamically to urge a desired swing path for the head of the golf club. The releasable mount is either a suction cup for so-called wood or a spring clip for so-called iron. There is a dial base provided with radial grooves engageable by ribs on the bottom of the horizontal stabilizer in various adjusted positions for hook or slice corrections. Sockets having restricted entrance openings are provided to releasably hold weights on the stabilizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is a common problem with golfers that they experience difiiculty in producing the desired results upon striking a golf ball. Repetition of improper swings results in the establishment of habit patterns insuring erratic results or, more objectionably, consistently improper results. Thus, some golfers hook and slice their shots with unpredictable variations and random sequencing while others repeat their errors with monotonous consistency. In either event, prior tothe present invention, remedial efforts were largely restricted to seeking professional help for analysis and guidance. While excellently suited to the purpose, such professional assistance is frequently expensive and time consuming. It has therefore been beyond the means of many golfers.

With the attachment of the present invention, however, it is possible to attach the device to the head of a golf club, set the dial for the desired correction and practice swinging. With each practice swing, the attachment urges the club head along the corrected path to permit the muscles of the user to achieve and store the correct memory, thereafter to reproduce the desired swing without the attachment. As will hereinafter become more fully apparent, such corrective action is conveniently available, inexpensive, and effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for the head of a golf club which acts as a stabilizing device for the golf club to which it is attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an attachment for the head of a golf club which is adjustable to make available various selective corrective effects.

A further object is to provide an attachment for the head of a golf club adapted to maintain the golf club along a correct path during practice swings to permit the muscles of the user to achieve and store the correct memory there after to reproduce the desired swing without the aid of the attachment.

3,719,363 Patented Mar. 6, 1973 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club of the type known as a wood with the attachment of the present invention mounted on the head of the club.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged top plan view of the head of the golf club with the attachment in place.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the head of the golf club with the attachment mounted on an upper surface thereof.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the attachment mounted on the head of the golf club.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a structure for mounting the attachment on the golf club head.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a second form of attachment of the present invention mounted on the head of a golf club known as an iron.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the attachment of FIG 7 positioned on the head of the golf club.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7..

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First form Referring in greater detail to the drawings, a conventional golf club, known as a wood, is shown at 10. It has a head 11 providing a front striking face 12 and an upper surface 13. A handle 14 is extended from the head in the well known manner and provides a grip 15.

The attachment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 18. It provides a substantially flat, forwardly pointing, delta shaped, horizontal stabilizer 20. Centrally disposed on the horizontal stabilizer and extending upwardly therefrom is a vertical stabilizer 21. The stabilizers are conveniently cas as a unit from somewhat flexible plastic or the like and each has a trailing edge. Malleable strips of metal 22 are imbedded in the trailing edges of both the vertical and horizontal stabilizers supplying bendable rudder and elevator adjustments to regulate the aerodynamic characteristics of the attachment. A pair of ribs 23 are preferably disposed on the horizontal stabilizer in substantially parallel relationship to, and on both sides of, the vertical stabilizer to impart greater rigidity thereto.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the horizontal stabilizer 20 is thickened at 24 contiguous with the vertical stabilizer and on opposite sides thereof. A plurality of sockets 25 are provided in the thickened portion adapted to receive metal pellets 26. The sockets are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the vertical stabilizer. The pellets are preferably of lead and of spherical shape. The sockets have mouths which are slightly restricted and the thickened portion is sufficiently elastic that the pellets can be thrust into the sockets for dependable retention. They can be popped out of their respective sockets by bending the horizontal stabilizer convexly toward the surface in which the sockets are located.

The first embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, is mounted on the head 11 of the club 10 by means of a suction cup 30. Centrally disposed on the back side of the suction cup is a bore 31 with an enlarged inner circumference supplying a shoulder 32, as

best shown in FIG. 6. Grooves 33 are provided on the back side of the suction cup in spaced relationship to the bore and radial thereto. A stud 34 is downwardly extended from the horizontal stabilizer 20 in a substantially opposing position to the vertical stabilizer 21. The stud forms a journal with an enlarged extended end forming a frustoconical shoulder 35 which is designed rotatably and releasably to engage the shoulder 32 within the bore. Ribs 36 radiate from the stud and when the stabilizers are mounted on the base the ribs are poistioned to nest in the grooves 33 to allow for the rotatably adjustable setting of the stabilizers upon the suction cup. A dial 37 is prefer ably provided on the back side of the suction cup with a plurality of suitably marked increments designating hook, slice or straight swing path for the head 11 of the golf club 10. The suction cup is mounted on the head of the golf club by compressing it thereagainst.

Second form A second form of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9. It is identical to the first form just described except for the means provided to mount it on the head 40 of a golf club 41 of the type known as an iron. The elements shown in FIGS. 7 through 9 which are shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 are given the same elements identifying numerals and their descritpion is not repeated at this point.

A bracket 45 is releasably clipped to the back of the head 40. It has a body 46 disposed flatly against the head, a lower lip 47 fitted about the lower edge of the head, a resilient clip 48 fitted about the end edge of the head, and a resilient clip 49 fitted over the upper edge of the head. An arm 50 is rigidly mounted on the bracket and horizontally rearwardly extended from the upper edge thereof. The arm has a bore 51 therethrough rearwardly adjacent to the head.

As before, the horizontal stabilizer 20 is provided with a downwardly directed stud 53 similar to the stud 34 but in this instance being directly below the vertical stabilizer 21. The stud has a frusto-conical extended end providing a shoulder 54 similar to the shoulder 35. The attachment of FIGS. 7 through 9 is mounted on the arm 50 by thrusting the shoulder 54 downwardly through the bore 51 so that the shoulder extends below the arm. Matching ribs and grooves, similar to those shown at 36 and 33 in the first form, can be provided, if desired.

OPERATION The operation of the described embodiments of the present invention is believed to be clearly apparent but is briefly summarized at this point. The attachments are mounted on the head 11 of the golf club by means of the suction cup 30, or on the head of the golf club 41 by means of the bracket 45. The stabilizers and 21 are then rotated upon the suction cup or arm 50 to achieve the desired aerodynamic effect. Visual reference. can be had to the dial 37 to facilitate the proper setting. The engagement of the ribs 36 in the groves 33 serves to insure maintenance of desired rotational positioning of the stabilizers once it is attained. In many instances, the frictional engagement of the studs 34 and 53 in the bores 31 and 51 and of the shoulders and 54 with the bore shoulder 32 and the arm 50, respectively, are adequate for the purpose.

The trailing edges of the stabilizers 20 and 21 are fiattened or bent, as desired, and their positions maintained by the consequent bending of the metal strips 22.

After initial adjustment, the golfer hits a number of practice balls. If he finds he is hooking, he readjusts the attachment by rotating it slightly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 8. If he finds he is slicing, he rotates the attachment slightly in a counterclockwise direction. This trial and error approach is continued until the golfer finds that he is hitting a straight ball.

It will be obvious that a golfer can overpower the action of the attachments and hit balls incorrectly no matter how the attachment is set. However, after a short period of use, the golfer can feel and respond to the aerodynamic pressures on the club imposed by the attachments. Thus, he is able to sense and to learn the proper swings.

Bending the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer 21 has the same general effect as rotating the stabilizers as a unit. Bending the trailing edges of the horizontal stabilizer 20 down tends to cause the golfer to sense that he should delay the club head. Bending these trailing edges upwardly tends to cause the golfer to sense that he should bring the club head through sooner. With practice, the attentive golfer is responsive to the aerodynamic action of the attachments and interprets it in truing up his swing.

The pellets 26 are used as desired to change the weight and balance of the club heads 11 and 40. They are conveniently mounted by simply thrusting them downwardly into their sockets 25. They are ejected by removing their attachment from the golf club 10 or 41 and upwardly convexly thrusting the horizontal stabilizer 20 to pop them out of their sockets.

Once the attachments are properly adjused, the golfer practices by repetitiously striking golf balls with the attachrnents in place. With each practice swing, the attachments tend to maintain the club heads 11 and 40 along the corrected paths with the faces of the heads in proper relation to the paths. This permits the muscles of the user to achieve and store the correct memory patterns thereafter to reproduce the desired swing without the attachments.

The attachments are easily removed from their respective heads 11 and 40 simply by detaching the suction cup 30 or bracket 45 so that the clubs 10 and 41 can be used for normal play.

The attachments are economical to produce, durable, and provide a useful and readily available expedient for improving a golfers swing.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a golf club having a head with a striking face and an upper surface, and a handle extended from the head, a stabilizer attachment comprising a horizontal stabilizer, being substantially fiat, generally delta shape pointing toward said front striking face,

a vertical stabilizer extending upwardly from the horizontal stabilizer,

mounting means adapted to mount said horizontal stabilizer on said head in such position that said horizontal stabilizer is located above said top surface whereby said stabilizers during the swinging of the golf club exert aerodynamic pressures transmitted to the golfer through said head and handle to indicate the correctness of the swing.

2. The combination specified in claim 1, and

means to rotatably connect said horizontal stabilizer to said mounting means, and

means to hold said horizontal stabilizer on said mounting means in rotatably adjusted position.

3. The combination specified in claim 1, and

malleable metal strips imbedded in the trailing edges of said stabilizers,

said stabilizers being pliant at said trailing edges and being adjustable to selected aerodynamic attitudes.

4. The combination specified in claim 1, and

said mounting means including a plate,

means to rotatably support said horizontal stabilizer on said plate,

coacting radial grooves and ribs on said plate and the lower surface of said stabilizer to hold said stabilizer in rotationally adjusted attitude.

5. The combination specified in claim 1, and weight means releasably mounted on the horizontal stabilizer adjacent each side of the vertical stabilizer.

6. The combination specified in claim 1, and said mounting means including a suction cup for releasable attachment on said head of a golf club.

7. The combination specified in claim 1, and

said mounting means including a fastener rotatably attached to the horizontal stabilizer,

and a grip extended from said fastener and adapted to releasably clamp on the head of a golf club.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sloan 273194 A La Rocca 273-186 A Zalkind 273-025 Miller 4679 Holbus 273-194 A X Kellogg 4679 X GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

273-194 A, DIGEST 

